JDL AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY PROTEST CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG

By Andi Geyer

Biloxi,Mississippi,Many are discovering that living in the Deep South always proves to be a unique experience. Case in point: the Confederate battle flag issue.

This issue has been raging for years, but it is quickly reaching the boiling point here on the Mississippi Gulfcoast. On Saturday, March 4th, there was an anti-Confederate flag "rally" held on the beach at the Eight Flags display (this is a flag display that flies the eight flags which flew over the coast at various times throughout its history). At this rally, local radio host & all-around-great guy (in my book, anyway), Rip Daniels, removed the battle flag and replaced it with the historically correct "Stars & Bars". You guessed it--the proverbial poop hit the fan!

The county supervisors (except for one) were up in arms over this incident. They set a date of Monday, March 13, 2000 for a meeting regarding whether to press charges against Mr. Daniels for "vandalizing" county property, as well as whether to take down the offensive battle flag from the Eight Flags beach display.

The Jewish Defense League decided to show up at the Biloxi Courthouse to show our support for Mr. Daniels and to watch the proceedings.
Many wonderful people, did a bit of networking, and plan to be
extremely involved in this issue. But I digress...

The city police and county sheriff's deputies were swarming everywhere since a resident of Long Beach, MS, decided to invite the white supremacist hate monger, David Duke, to the meeting. Duke was not allowed into the meeting, however he gathered his followers around him outside and spouted his rhetoric for all who would listen. Unfortunately, some of the media were all to ready to give him a forum.

Side note: There was an interesting moment when the local JDL leader turned to say something to me and noticed Duke staring daggers into him. Of course, local JDL leader Judah Geyer being the brave and proud man he is, stared right back until Duke looked away--gotta love it!

In the end, Mr. Daniels was not charged with anything thanks to a letter from an attorney. However, the Harrison County Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 (along racial lines even) to leave the flag flying. They are going to the point of buying new flag poles with locks so that no one can take the flags down in the future. They claim to have listened to all sides, however, some folks would disagree.

Yesterday, Duke and his cronies held a "victory celebration" on the beach at the flag display. There were about 75 police officers and sherriff's deputies on hand and the two sides had to be separated because a fight broke out right after Duke showed up.

There will be a meeting tomorrow evening of various involved civic organizations, etc., to determine whether or not to have an economic boycott as was done in South Carolina. Hopefully, it won't have to come to that, but JDL and members of the African-American community are willing to do whatever it takes.

JDL's Judah Geyer called up Rip's talk show today to add his two cents on the issue. Judah pointed out that the battle flag is kind of like the American swastika. In Germany, it is illegal to fly the Nazi flag because it represents an outlawed regime that among its crimes were slave labor, oppression of other races, and extermination. Isn't it a shame that some Americans fly their own form of swastika?
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Opinions differ as to who is to blame

Everett cemeteries desecrated

By Matthew S. Robinson,Boston Jewish Advocate Staff

EVERETT -- Everett police are continuing their investigation of the desecration of two cemeteries in late February. To date, no suspects have been identified in the case. According to Everett Police Captain Bob Bontempo, 18 gravestones in five of the 22 different burial grounds (Beth Israel, Montefiore, Bessarabian, Linas Hatzedek and Agudas Sholom) situated near the main entrance on Fuller Street were vandalized. Dorothy Green, who works for the Beth Israel Cemetery Corporation, notes "there was very little vandalism and none of it was anti-Semitic as such."

The following day, the Woodlawn Cemetery was attacked with similar gravestone topplings. Also, anti-Semitic and racist symbols and slogans were spray painted on grave markers and nearby construction trailers. Green points to bored adolescents (who were on school vacation) as the vandals.

Michael Slomich of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) disagrees, instead positing that there may be some relation between these attacks and the distribution of literature from the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC) which occurred over the same weekend ("WCOTC Strikes Again," March 3). Slomich notes that both events happened around the time of the birthday of the late WCOTC founder Ben Klassen, which has been marked in recent years by a "birthday blitz," during which WCOTC's hateful activity increases. On the day of the attacks, the JDL received calls from unidentified persons claiming themselves to be the victims of attacks by "Nazi toughs." Slomich figures these people to have actually been the perpetrators bragging about their actions.

"We're going to be looking into this thing quite forcefully," Slomich says on behalf of the JDL, "and we're going to be keeping an eye on the affected areas."

In the meantime, Beth Israel and Woodlawn are both working with local authorities, private individuals and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to find out who perpetrated these attacks and what their motives might have been.

Andrew Tarsy, ADL's new eastern states civil rights counsel, points out a key element common to many such situations which he hopes will lead to more information. "Usually people who perpetrate such crimes talk about it," Tarsy says, "and we hope that someone who hears them lets us know. Unless somebody opens their mouth, it's hard to catch them." If the perpetrators are apprehended, Tarsy hopes that their actions will be handled as hate crimes. According to the Hate Crimes Reporting Act, such determinations require the appearance of bias motivation. If these actions are so qualified, they will create a paper trail unique to such crimes which help organizations like ADL keep track of such behaviors.

While he admits that this situation could turn out to have not been a hate crime, Tarsy does not see how that conclusion could be drawn. As far as possible sentencing, Tarsy says that depends on the perceived severity of the crime, and points out that two of the 1993 perpetrators are still in prison. "Hate crimes are not pranks," Tarsy says, "and they should be handled appropriately."

Both the District Attorney and the Attorney General have been in close contact with both the ADL and the Everett police. While both have delegated investigative authority to the police, both claim to be available should their services be deemed necessary. Tarsy encourages anyone who may have information regarding this situation to contact the Everett police immediately.

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Supremacist's meeting greeted by protesters

Hale's World Church gathering attracts about 30 followers

By KELLIE B. GORMLY
of the Peoria Journal Star

PEORIA - A handful of Jewish protesters challenged white supremacist Matt Hale on Saturday at the Peoria Public Library, where Hale and about 30 followers gathered for the first public meeting of his World Church of the Creator.

"Misery loves company," said Ian Sigel, chairman of the Jewish Defense League in Chicago. "Most of these people are not accepted by normal people in society, and they find solace in each other."

Sigel and the other protesters - one from Chicago and one from Indiana - interjected questions and retaliations when Hale gave his anti-Semitic speech, which he justified mostly by the Talmud and the Old Testament of the Bible. The book advocated murders as part of religious rituals, Hale told his followers, and other evil acts.

"People think Judaism is just another religion," said Hale, leader of the organization. "In reality, it is a conspiracy.

"We grab the snake by the throat," said Hale, an East Peoria resident. "If we are hated by the Jews, we are doing something right."

Hale did not flinch when the protesters spoke their opposition. His followers - most from Illinois, a few from other Midwestern states - stared straight ahead in silence.

Followers who were guarding the auditorium door once asked the protesters to leave when they spoke passionately, but they refused and warned the guards not to come any closer.

"You touch me, you die," said Simon Garfunkel, also of the Chicago Jewish Defense League.

Garfunkel and his colleagues had every right to protest at a public meeting, just as Hale has the right to spawn his hate messages, Sigel said.

"He wants freedom of speech, he'll get freedom of speech," he said.

Sigel said he did not want to instigate an ugly scene, but to protest peacefully and show Hale that they are not intimidated.

"We're not here for a confrontation," he said. "We're here to show them that wherever they go, we're there."

Although no violence erupted, protesters engaged in a heated verbal exchange with Hale's crowd as they filed up the stairway after their meeting.

"You stand for nothing but hate," Sigel shouted at Hale's followers. "Do you have a mind of your own?"

"We're people," one voice replied. "That's all that matters."

Sue Herring, director of the Peoria Public Library, said the library is a public facility. Although religious ceremonies cannot be held there, religious and other groups can hold meetings as long as they follow regulations.

The library placed a book rack titled "Celebrating Diversity" at the front entrance.

"We don't support Matt's beliefs in any way, shape or form," Herring said. "I'm glad that everyone was safe."

Click Here To See Video of JDL-Chicago Get In Hale's Face
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'The Acts Performed Here Won't Be Tolerated'

By A. SCOTT FERGUSON
New Jersey Herald & News

CLIFTON - Between 40 and 50 members of the Jewish Defense League of New York/New Jersey, as well as representatives of the city's Jewish community, rallied Sunday against anti-Semitic graffiti spray-painted at the Jewish Federation of Greater Clifton-Passaic's community center.

The rally came about after authorities Thursday morning found a pair of swastikas and the phrase "Long Live Hitler" painted on a trailer at the Scoles Avenue center, which also houses a Young Men's/Women's Hebrew Association.

In a written statement, JDL members said the vandalism has "created a strong resolve by members of Clifton and Passaic to take the necessary steps to prevent this type of attack from occurring again."

During the rally, several police cars were stationed nearby. A police spokesman said the group acted peacefully, arriving by noon and leaving by 1:45 p.m.

But police said there were reports the Clifton-Passaic federation did not want the JDL there. Attempts to reach Clifton-Passaic federation officials late Sunday were unsuccessful.

Police are continuing their investigation of the defacement, which is being treated as a bias crime. The graffiti has since been painted over.

Edward Zahabi, a JDL spokesman, called the graffiti a sign of hatred and called on the Jewish community to rally against any anti-Semitism.

"You have to fight hatred with everything you have," Zahabi said. "Everybody's life is riding on this. Our slogan is 'Never Again.' This means never again will we stand idly by while others perpetuate aggression against us. We are emulating the Jews of the Bible."

As Zahabi spoke, men - young and old alike - surrounded him in a sign of unity. They wore sunglasses and barrettes. While some held JDL signs adorned with a fist and Star of David, others stood holding Israeli and American flags.

In addition to the JDL, other protesters included the Baruch College (NYC) Jewish Students Union, the Orthodox Student Network and members of the local Jewish community.

Ira, a local Clifton man who asked his last name not be used, said he helped organize the rally after hearing about the graffiti on a local radio station.

"The acts performed here are not going to be tolerated," said Ira, who lives within walking distance of the center. "I'm not going to live in fear. We are here to show our support and show we are not afraid."

Ira said he did not know if anymore rallies were planned.

As for reports the parking lot where the trailer is located is a late-night hangout for teen-agers, Zahabi said this incident should not be labeled a harmless prank.

"This is not a case of kids will be kids," Zahabi said. "This is organized aggression. These acts of vandalism make us stronger and fill up our ranks. We are showing that Jews have to defend themselves and their property."

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A Jew to Lean on in a Dark Alley

By Steven Rosenberg

Boston Jewish Advocate

“If I find somebody set-up to attack a Jew, I go all the way. It’s what I do.”

So thunders Michael Slomich, the executive director of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) of New England. It’s after midnight in Slomich’s modest home outside of Boston, and he’s just beginning to warm up with some “war stories” spread out over the last 30 years. He’s a tall, hulking, bearded man, who wears flannel shirts and black work boots, who, perhaps, in another life, in another country might have spent his middle age leaning over a Talmud in a yeshiva.

But in this lifetime, Slomich has made other arrangements. No, he probably won’t be collecting any “man of the year” awards from a Jewish organization. But that’s okay with him. He’s in a different line of work from most Jewish organizational leaders. A constable by trade, he’s thrown his lot into a full-time, unpaid position of protecting Jews from bad people. Nazis, Skinheads, Klansmen, European fascists, and general anti-Semites — Slomich has confronted them all. Usually just his presence and some of the rest of his fellow band of 75 volunteers (35 percent of whom are not Jewish) are enough to silence the most vocal anti-Semite. “Most of the time the people who are at everyone’s throats become quiet as lambs,” he says in his deep, throaty voice.

Born in Dorchester, and the son of a federal agent, Slomich grew up in Washington D.C. and eventually moved to California, where he graduated from UCLA in 1968. At UCLA, he was active in the Students for Democratic Society (SDS), and by the time he moved to the Bay Area he had taken a keen interest in civil rights, and was working for the Stanford Research Institute. When the Institute sent him down to observe the People’s Park Event in Berkley, his life would forever change. “Ronald Reagan, who was governor of California, wanted to send the people a message,” remembers Slomich. “I saw 150 people shot in cold blood by sherriff’s deputies.”

Shortly afterwards, he left for an 18 month stint on a left-leaning Israeli kibbutz. Ironically, Slomich learned about the problems facing elderly Jews in Mattapan and Dorchester by reading a news report in the Israeli press. He hopped on a plane, arrived in Boston, headed toward his grandparents’ home in Dorchester, and joined the JDL.

Wearing blue berets and JDL pins (with the logo of a clenched fist, a Jewish star and the slogan “Never Again”), the Boston chapter of the JDL cut a wide swath through Blue Hill Avenue during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. “We had everybody from tough guys from Chelsea to religious Jews to Vietnam veterans to hippies,” recalls the JDL leader. “We gave Tuesday night to the religious, and Friday night to the Chaya (Animal) Squad.”

Slomich, who was moonlighting as a cab driver, spent most of his time out on patrol guarding elderly Jews at the Franklin Field Housing Project. In the racially charged streets where Boston Jewry enjoyed its golden years, things went from bad to worse. According to the JDL strongman, most of the problems were with racist blacks who wanted the Jews out. “Jews were being mugged, they were being attacked. They were told to ‘get out or die.’ People were shot just because they were Jews,” he remembers.

He eventually rose to patrol commander, and then in 1988 he took over as executive director. By then, the JDL had shifted its base out of the city and into the suburbs. During the ‘70s, Slomich and his crew spent much of their time confronting Nazis. He helped bring 200 JDL members on a road-trip to St. Louis to protest a truckful of Nazis that wanted to march through a German part of the town. Says Slomich “John Hinckley (who would later try to kill Ronald Reagan) was on a big open truck shouting Nazi slogans.”

Leaning over his kitchen table, Slomich recounts the stories with a smile. For him, they are little victories; part of his mission in life. Like any good enforcement officer, he’s quick not to divulge his sources of information. “We have good connections,” he notes. “We’ve always had a good rapport with enforcement agencies. A lot of it comes from Jews and non-Jews.”

Case in point, April, 1992, when headstones from Everett’s Jewish cemetery were smashed, and defaced with Nazi graffitti. While some of his members actually slept in the cemetery “to keep an eye on it,” others developed some leads which were passed onto the state investigators. Arrests were made.

Several years later, a Vietnam vet who had moved to rural Webster, New Hampshire to become the town’s police chief was suddenly the victim of an anti-Semitic board of selectmen. Slomich made countless trips to Webster to stand by one of the few Jews in that part of the state. Eventually, the police chief took a financial settlement and left, physically unharmed, thanks in part to Slomich.

Perhaps the case that best illustrates what the JDL does goes back to the ‘80s when a Jewish teenager from Randolph refused to salute the American flag, and became the object of anti-Semites throughout the country. After a rock crashed through her window, the JDL came to her aide. She stayed protected for six months.

For Slomich, this is all in a day’s work. He doesn’t seek the limelight, and goes about his business like a professional. He’s the voice many frightened and violated Jews turn to when they’re desperate for help, and don’t know where else to turn. He’s the kind of person you’d want to be with if you were alone in a dark alley.

Steven Rosenberg is the editor of The Boston Jewish Advocate. ____________________________________________________________________________

Blizzard of protest drives Hale from NU

BY DAVID SOUTHWELL SUBURBAN REPORTER CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

White supremacist Matt Hale was greeted with taunts and snowballs during a recruiting trip to Northwestern University on Friday, forcing Evanston police to guide the leader of the World Church of the Creator to safety.

Hale claimed to have added five new members to his organization before his rally on Sheridan Road was cut short by the scuffle with protesters.

As Hale professed his message "of love for white people," he was pelted by a flurry of snowballs that dislodged his fogged-up glasses.

Members of the Jewish Defense League and other demonstrators then closed in around him, shouting profanities and forcing him across the sidewalk and toward the street before police intervened and took him into protective custody.

"We will not be rejected just because one person committed a crime," Hale said, referring to Benjamin Smith, who police say killed two people and wounded nine others in a racist killing spree last summer. Smith was at one time a member of the World Church. One of those killed was Ricky Byrdsong, former basketball coach at the Evanston-based university.

Officers arrested three Chicago men--who were not Northwestern students--in the crowd of several hundred.

"I'm insulted," said one of the protesters, sophomore Ryan Swift of Deerfield. "It's disturbing and dangerous. To have a group like this on campus would be scary."

But Hale claimed he was invited by five Northwestern students who joined his group, though he refused to divulge names. He called the event a "success."

"We don't preach white supremacy. We're not interested in oppressing anyone," Hale said. "We're into separation of races."

A peace gathering was held across campus during Hale's appearance, but many students gravitated to Hale to send their own message.

Freshman Laura Storz, an Atlanta native, attended both rallies. "The best way to oppose Matt Hale is to stand up for what we think or he'll keep coming back," Storz said. "The worst thing to do is be apathetic."

Northwestern spokesman Alan Cubbage said the crowd played into Hale's hands.

"Everything I predicted came true, to my dismay," Cubbage said. "He got what he wanted . . . publicity. I question [whether] he recruited anyone. My children used to have imaginary playmates too."

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Pollard's supporters call on first lady to say where she stands on clemency
By Jeannine Mercer

NEW YORK, Dec. 6 (JTA) — Supporters of clemency for Jonathan Pollard are putting pressure on the first lady to take a stand on whether the convicted spy for Israel should be freed.

To a crowd of roughly 250 people in front of Hillary Rodham Clinton's Manhattan campaign headquarters, the answer is clear: "Free Pollard now." That was the chant repeated by those who gathered Sunday to urge the unofficial U.S. Senate candidate to address the issue.

"We want to know where Hillary stands on the Jonathan Pollard issue. What does she feel in her heart?" asked Dov Hikind, a New York state assemblyman from Brooklyn, to approval from the crowd behind him.

Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was convicted of espionage in 1985 for passing secret U.S. military information to Israel. Pollard has served 14 years of a life sentence.

Critics have charged that Pollard's sentence is harsher than those of other spies in similar cases.

"Hillary needs to make a decision. There is no reason Pollard should be in jail for so long," said Batsheva Epstein, who organized a group of 20 students from Touro College's Flatbush division to attend the rally.

New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who will likely become Clinton's Republican opponent for the Senate seat, has already said that Pollard's life sentence is "way beyond the sentence served by other people that have been convicted of the same offense."

Yet Hikind said Clinton's support is more important than Giuliani's because she is the president's wife.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for us to take advantage of her" Senate "candidacy to do something that is just," Hikind said. "This is going to be a big issue throughout her campaign. She can't stand away from it much longer."

Clinton's campaign office did not return phone calls for comment.

Pollard's wife, Esther, accused the first lady of "ducking" the issue.

"We're not telling her what to do, but we feel that she should look at the facts and take a position, and let due process take its course" Esther Pollard said in a phone interview with JTA.

Esther Pollard has waited with increased exasperation since the Wye agreement talks in October 1998, when President Clinton promised to conduct a speedy review of her husband's case.

"Both Clintons have a real credibility problem," she said. "It would be to Mrs. Clinton's credit and her husband's for her to take a stand either way. Her Senate candidacy puts her in a unique position to pressure the president for my husband's clemency, but if she chooses not to support his freedom, well, that will speak volumes to the voters in New York."

At Hikind's rally, a few local rabbis and representatives from various Jewish organizations also took turns at the microphone, while the crowd held cardboard posters stating "Hillary: Let Jonathan Go!" and yelled "Enough Is Enough!" between speakers.

In a similar event Aug. 29, some 50 people showed up to support the cause. "This time we have hundreds stretching to the corner," Hikind said, and told the crowd, "You made Jonathan Pollard smile today. He feels better today because of what you have done."

At the conclusion of the hour-long event, a group of around 25 young men — members of the Jewish Defense League — marched through the dispersing crowd in a procession, holding signs that showed fists within the Star of David, and chanting, "Freedom for Jonathan Pollard."

Tourists above a stopped double-decker N.Y. Apple Tours bus crowded the bus' edge to take pictures of the JDL protest.

Hikind smiled and told a nervous police officer, "We didn't arrange this. This is unexpected."

[JDL Web Staff Note: The protest was a complete hit and success for the JDL!
Before JDL arrived the crowd was dead. In fact the protest turned from what was supposed to be a "DOV HIKIND" protest for Pollard to a "Jewish Defense League " protest to free Pollard.
Approximately 70 JDLers were on hand carrying "JDL NY- FREE POLLARD" posters with the JDL emblem.
The various media was very impressed, in fact the police said that until the JDL arrived nothing was happening.
Dov Hikind did not come to protest he came to give a press conference & immediately left after his media spectacle.
The demonstration made the Evening News on channels 7 , 4 , 2 and a couple of local area newspapers!!!. This is the same Dov Hikind who is an ex-JDL member who eventually turned on late JDL founder Rabbi Meir Kahane,ZT"L,HY"D and the day after his funeral told the press that Kahane was a "racist"! Not until the Nossair trial (Kahane's murderer) did Mr.Hikind change his tune and as we all know as is the present case with Pollard just to make a media spectacle!!!!!
All of a sudden when it gained him publicity he changed his tune and became a "Kahanist" just as now he is suddenly the big spokesman for Pollard!!!! Something is not quite kosher in Brooklyn!!!!!]

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Jew-Muslim Row On Talk Show
By Anna Cox

A Radio 702 talk show,Talk At Nine," hosted by Jewish Report managing editor Janine Lazarus on the recent bomb blast at Cape Town's Planet Hollyood,turned into a Jew/Muslim debate after a spokesman for the Jewish Defence League (JDL) phoned in saying that he had no doubt that Muslims had planted the bomb.
About 80 percent of the callers were Muslim,with the majority of the remainder Jewish.
The controversy erupted when JDL spokesman,Frank Startz,phoned in to say that he was surprised to hear that Muslims were "whingeing and wanting proof of guilt before innocence was established." "This is a joke. Muslims are not subscribers to any form of democracy- there is no recognised democracy anywhere in the Muslim world except Pakistan. The Muslims have set themselves up for these accusations - I can not allow myself to luxuriate the possibility that they are not responsible."
"This action is consistent with their behaviour over the years - they deserve to be condemned. I personally will judge them without evidence as they judge other people,"he said. This evoked a stream of calls,mainly from Muslims condemning Startz. Faizel Dawjee,communications director of the Afro Mideast Centre,who was a guset on the show and who condemned the attack,said no blame could be laid until there was evidence and it was reprehensible. It was not fair to taint all Muslims with the same brush.
"Startz becomes no better than the Muslim reactionary and extremist and is behaving the same as the fringe and lunatic groups by condmning Muslims. We will condemn the Muslim groups responsible if they are found guilty,but we can not judge anyone without evidence." "It is evident that Frank (Startz) is already prejuiced. In the Oklahoma blast,everyone blamed Muslims and it turned out not be and there had to be appologies," he said.
Startz retorted that it was the first time he had sat in conference with Muslims,albeit over the radio.
"I generally make it a rule to stay away from you people. Muslims have no respect for human life,"he said.
Faizel said he regretted the fact that the debate turned into a Muslim-Jew debate and he didn't want to be party to this on air.
*The Cape Town bomb blast was an incident which brought together groups of all religious beliefs, said Ayob Mungalee,Gauteng Pagad spokesman.
He emphatically denied that Pagad had issued a directive to its members to bomb synagogues.
"Religious groups have united over this bombing and are starting talks and the Jewish community will be involved. If this kind of rumour is going around,it is a smear campaign or a way to seek publicity. We deplore this." "Pagad is opposed to gangsterism and drugs and to try to turn this bombing into something political against us is deplorable,"he said.

The South African Judenrat condemns the JDL:

South African Jewish Board Of Deputies

Fax Transmission From Russell Gaddin
Adrressee's Name:Producer Clive Simpkins Show
Adddressee's Firm:Radio 702

Dear Sir,
I write to you in my capacity as the chairman of the Gauteng Council of The South African Jewish Board Of Deputies,which is the umbrella organisation and spokesperson for the South African Jewish Community.

Your show last Friday debated various issues and one of the callers Mr.Frank Startz,identified himself as a representative of the South African Jewish Defence League,I would like to inform you that this body has no support or recognition from the Jewish community,is not affiliated to our organisation in anyway and does not represent the views nor the sentiment of the South African Jewish community.

Further,we would like to point out that the views that Startz espouses are an embarrassment to the Jewish community and we distance ourselves from them.

Thank You.

Yours Faithfully,

Russel Gaddin
Gauteng Council Chairman
South African Jewish Board Of Deputies
Phone:(27)(11)486-1434
Fax:(27)(11)646-4940
Email:sajbod@iafrica.com

JDL Responds To South Africa's Judenrat:

Jewish Defence League
PO Box 890756
Lyndhurst,Johannesburg,South Africa,2106
Telephone:(27)11)882-8702 Fax:(27)(11)882-1738
Email:jdlsa@iafrica.com

South African Jewish Board Of Deputies
For The Attention Of Mr.Russell Gaddin
Re:The Clive Simpkins Show-Radio 702

Dear Sir,
A letter addressed to the producer of the above named radio programme by yourself has come into our possesion and a number of inaccuracies contained therein need to be corrected for the sake of historical accuracy. Accordingly we have detailed these for you hereunder withthe request that you at least examine these together with our own responces.

I)Neither myself nor any accredited member of The Jewish Defence League ever established any contact with the producer or presenter of the above show.

II)The information contained in your letter that the Jewish Defence League does not enjoy sympathy,support and reognition from the Jewish community is not reflected in our own records and accordingly,is challenged. This is more probably a truer reflection of your own organisation,whose claimed mandate could never undergo any serious scrutiny applied to even the most fundamental democratic requirements.

III)It is strange that you find our views a source of embarrassment and distance yourself from these views. This stance which flies in the face of Authentic Judaism is remeniscent of much of the sycophantic behaviour perpetrated by your organisation during the period preceding and during World War II,when Jewish refugees were seeking entry into South Africa,your organisation approached the then government of the day and shamefully urged the authorities to deny these poor "eigene mensh" entry & protection from the slaughter they were eventually to encounter.

The Jewish Defence League has a proud record both in this country & abroad of unashamedly confronting the avowed enemies of our people and doing whatever is required in the application of justice. Our two word mission statement means exactly that:

NEVER AGAIN!!!!

Yours In Authentic Judaism,
Frank Startz
Jewish Defence League-South Africa
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Jewish organization to have 'armed volunteers' stand watch against hate fliers

By NESREEN KHASHAN, Staff Writer Sun-Sentinel      

   HOLLYWOOD -- A leader of a Jewish affairs organization said he plans to send armed volunteers to Emerald Hills this week in response to hate fliers that were disseminated there last weekend.
   Herschel Dickter, security director of the local chapter of the Jewish Defense League, said as many as 20 armed volunteers will drive through the predominantly Jewish community to stand watch against further hate messages. He said the volunteers will remain "as long as necessary," to convey that racism will not be tolerated.
   While the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress use awareness to combat anti-Semitism, Dickter said that isn't enough.
   "We say that the Germans are considered the most educated, most refined people in the world and look what happened to six million Jews," Dickter said. "Education doesn't help."
   Police say the leaflets were left at every home on the 3500 blocks of 53rd, 54th and 55th avenues in Emerald Hills this past weekend. This is the second time in 18 months that Emerald Hills has been hit with the racist fliers.
   The leaflets were signed by The World Church of the Creator, which made headlines earlier this month when a follower was charged with going on a shooting spree, killing a black man and an Asian and injuring more than a dozen others before turning the gun on himself.
    Local World Church leader, Jules Fettu of West Palm Beach, is on trial in Broward Circuit Court on charges he and several other members attacked a Cuban-born man and his son outside a concert in Sunrise in 1997.
    In February of 1998, the last time fliers were disseminated in Emerald Hills, Dickter said armed volunteers patrolled the area for 60 days.
    Police spokesman Lt. Chad Wagner said the department is concerned with armed vigilantism and what could happen when emotions run high. Wagner also said he had a conversation with with Dickter late Tuesday, during which Dickter told him that Jewish Defense volunteers would not carry weapons. Dickter could not be reached to confirm Wagner's report.
   "We would prefer that people didn't arm the streets," Wagner said. "These people are not trained, they're not law enforcement officers."
    The Jewish Defense League is a national organization founded by the late Rabbi Meir Kahane in the mid-1970s. Kahane later immigrated to Israel where he founded Kach, an organization that wants Arabs expelled from Israel and the occupied territories and Israel turned into a Jewish theocracy.
   ADL's South Florida associate director Michael Winograd said the Jewish Defense League is a fringe organization that doesn't participate in the dialogue with other Jewish groups.
   "We don't approve of their tactics," Winograd said. "Our record speaks for itself and in fact, so does the JDL's."

[JDL Web Staff Note: This is one of the few things that we agree with the ADL about! Indeed ADL's record does speak for itself as does the JDL's!]
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Jewish couple speak out against race hate